1L LCLD Scholar and Summer Associate

The Marshall, Gerstein & Borun 1L Diversity Fellow/1L LCLD Scholars Program aims to enhance the legal talent pool by increasing the range of opportunities available to first-year law school students dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP is proud to partner with a few of our top clients to support a 1L LCLD Scholar in our Chicago office during the summer of 2025. Please send application materials via email to Michele Gudaitis at [email protected].

Application deadline: January 31, 2025

• Applicants are encouraged to apply ahead of the deadline as our hiring process is on a rolling basis

Diversity Scholarship Details

• The firm will award one $10,000 scholarship on a non-renewable basis. Eligibility is based upon academic merit and a demonstrated commitment to community service.
• Scholars will also receive an offer for a paid summer associate position in the firm’s Chicago office for the summer of 2025.
• Accepting the scholarship will commit the recipient to spending their 1L summer at the firm, with at least a portion of the summer spent working in-house with one of the firm’s partnering clients.
• Attendance at LCLD’s Virtual Scholar Summit.
• Scholarship applications will close late January 2025.

Eligibility

The Diversity Scholarship is open to any first-year law school student who:

• Is enrolled at any ABA-accredited law school with an anticipated graduation date of 2027 at the time of application.
• Has a commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession.
• Can participate in and complete Marshall, Gerstein & Borun’s 2025 Summer Associate Program.
• Will not be the recipient of a diversity award from another law firm paid between January 1, 2025, and August 31, 2025.

Criteria

Scholarship recipients will be selected based on consideration of the following factors:

• Strong academic credentials, which should minimally include an advanced degree in the Chemical/Biological Sciences or similar field, or a degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering or similar field.
• GPAs of at least 3.0 in all levels of education.
• Excellent communication skills-both written and verbal-and exceptional research and organizational skills.
• Ability to grasp new technical teachings quickly and enjoy a thirst for learning.
• Dedicated work ethic, leadership ability, and an ability to work effectively in teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion

Application and Materials

Qualified individuals interested in this position should apply through the application link and include a resume and undergraduate/graduate transcripts. Applications can be updated to include first-semester law school transcripts when available.

In addition, the above-noted application materials must be accompanied by an essay in response to the prompt below.

Share a personal experience or initiative that highlights your dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Describe the impact of your actions and reflect on how this commitment shapes your outlook and values, particularly in your pursuit of a legal career.

Our Firm and Diversity Commitment

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP is a Chicago-based intellectual property law firm with over 85 attorneys, highly qualified patent agents, and technical specialists, all dedicated to providing superior intellectual property counseling. We specialize in prosecution and litigation in all areas of intellectual property law. We litigate nationwide, primarily within the federal court system, and obtain patents and trademark registrations for our clients in the United States and foreign patent and trademark offices. During the summer, we expose our summer associates to realistic, substantive legal assignments tackling issues across intellectual property disciplines, including litigation, prosecution, and transactional.

Marshall Gerstein is committed to diversity, equity & inclusion and to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of the most talented and qualified professionals. We recognize that diversity at all levels of our firm, and the collective strength of our differences, enables us to better serve our clients, create enduring relationships, provide a platform for continued success, and improve both the vibrancy and innovation of our working environment.

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We adhere to an employment policy that prohibits discriminatory practices or harassment against applicants or employees based on any legally impermissible factor including, but not necessarily limited to, race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, alienage or citizenship status, marital or familial status, domestic partnership status, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, change of sex or transgender status, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, physical or mental disability (where the applicant or employee is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation), any protected military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault or offense, or stalking.